Artificial eye



April 12,1949. 1 R N 2,466,780

ARTIFICIALMEYE.

Filed April 23," 1947 INVENTOR,

ALt'AA/YDER I RAD/N H/J ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 12, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTIFICIALEYE' Alexander J. Radin, Brooklyn, N. Y. Y Application April 2.3, 1947, Serial No. 743,429

This invention relatesto. artificial eyes.

The removal of a. personseye leads not only to the deprivation of the use of the sight of that eye and partial disfigurement, but also, as a result of such disfigurement, to loss of self-esteem. The utilization of glass orplastic artificial eyes has been a great boon to these sufferers, but these appliances have entailed the disadvantageofllack of mobility.

It is a principal object of this invention to provide an artificial eye that will not only have the property of mobility but will be movable by the muscles in harmony with the good eye.

Some attempts have been made in the prior art to construct shells that are movable by the eye muscles, as is exemplified in British Patent 177,074 to Taylor, United States Patent 1,379,741 to Bourdeaux, and United States Patent 2,322,117 to Dimitry, but the traction between the muscles and the shells has proved inadequate to produce the desired mobility. This disadvantage is obviated by the instant invention.

The invention will be more readily understood with the aid of the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment thereof. It is understood, however, that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

The drawings illustrate two components of the new and improved prosthesis, one being referred to as a ball and being adapted to be firmly secured to the eye muscles within the socket, and the other being referred to as a shell and simulating an eye.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the ball, taken from the front.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the shell, taken from the rear.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the ball.

Fig. 4 is a front view of the ball.

Fig. 5 is a side view of the shell.

Fig. 6 is a front view of the shell.

Fig. I is a vertical longitudinal section through the shell.

Fig. 8 is a front View of a modified form of shell.

With particular reference to the drawings, it will be observed that the ball I0 is in the form of a sphere having a bight l2. The ball Ill is made of any material that is not affected by the bodily secretions, such as pure gold, and is preferably hollow. This member is adapted to be inserted into the eye socket after the enucleation of the eye, with the bight facing forwardly. The rectl are then sutured through and around the bight l2. As a result, the muscles, which of 7 Claims. (01.. 3-13) 2 course aresti1l= alive and useful, will positively carry the. ball lllin unison with the good eye. Naturally, the ball 10: will come in the proper size to fit the socket; The bight [2 need not/take the particular shapefshown, but may be of any suitable form to provide a firm union with the recti. Thus, it maybe horizontal or cruciform;

The shell'20 is made of a size,.shape,. andcolor to resemble the reinaining' eye, and comprises a convexo-concave member having a simulated iris 22 and pupil 23 on its convex or front surface. The rear surface contains a vertical groove 25 that is adapted to engage that portion of the muscles that covers the bight l2 of the ball III. The shell 20 is removable at will, while the ball remains embedded permanently in the socket.

The internal rectus and the external rectus, which furnish the side-to-side motion to the eye, are firmly attached to the vertically-positioned bight 12 to furnish similar motion to the ball Ill. The inferior rectus and the superior rectus will furnish up-and-down motion. The groove 25 will be deep enough to partially envelop the bight l2 and its overlying tissue, so that the motion of the ball [0 will be communicated to the shell 20.

The operation of embedding the ball in the eye socket is relatively simple, and no sharp corners are left to irritate the muscles and other tissues. The fitting of the shell 20 to the ball ID will be such as to provide substantially exact matching of position, and consequently of motion, with the good eye.

In the event that the ball I0 is not symmetrically positioned in the socket, the shell shown in Fig. 8 may be used to advantage. This shell comprises a front member 30 having the usual iris and pupil to simulate an eye, and a posterior member 40 having the vertical groove 25 hereinbefore described. The members 30 and 40 are relatively adjustable, as, for example, by having their adjacent surfaces of the same curvature. Consequently, if the bight I2 is asymmetric, the groove 25 of the rear member 40 may still be positioned to cooperate therewith. The front member 30, however, is shifted to be properly centered with respect to the good eye. The relative position of the members 30 and 40 is noted, both are removed from the socket, and are then permanently joined by heat, chemical treatment, or other process. This will obviate the necessity for another operation to relocate the ball I!) in the socket. If desired, the members 30 and 40 may be made permanently adjustable with respect to each other.

I claim:

1. An artificial eye, comprising a spherical body having an anterior vertical yoke integral therewith, the said yoke being adapted to be attached to recti within an eye socket, a removable rear shell member adapted to be positioned over the spherical body and having a posterior recess engageable with said yoke, and a front shell member simulating an eye and adapted to be positioned over the rear shell member, the front shell member being adjustable with respect to the rear shell member.

2. An artificial eye, comprising a body having a protuberance adapted to be secured to an eye muscle, and a shell movable by the said protuberance, the said shell having a recess adapted to be engaged by the protuberance.

3. An artificial eye, comprising a spherical body having a protuberance adapted to be secured to an eye muscle, and a shell movable by the said protuberance, the said shell having a posterior recess adapted to be engaged by the protuberance.

4. An artificial eye, comprising a body having a protuberance adapted to be secured to an eye muscle, and a shell movable by the said protuberance, the said shell having a back portion engageable with the protuberance and a front portion adjustable relative to the back portion.

5. An artificial eye, comprising a substantially spherical body having an anterior bight, and a removable shell adapted to be positioned in front of the spherical body, the said shell having a recess complementary to the bight.

6. The device set forth in claim 5, wherein the bight is vertical.

7. The device set forth in claim 5, wherein the bight is cruciform.

ALEXANDER J. RADIN.

Ruedemann, A. D.Plastic Eye Implant, American Journal of Ophthalmology, August 1946, pages 947-952. 

